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MEMORIAL DAY 
PAGEANT 



BY 



CONSTANCE D'ARCY MACKAY 











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MEMORIAL DAY 
PAGEANT 

ARRANGED FOR 
COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS 

BY 
CONSTANCE D'ARCY MACKAY 

AUTHOR OF 
"PLAYS OF THE PIONEERS" ETC. 




HARPER &» BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 
NEW YORK ^ LONDON 






f 



o.%i 



Memorial Day Pageant 



Copyright, 1916, by Harper & Brothers 

Printed in the United States of America 

Published March, 1916 



MAR 15 1916 



NOTE ON PRODUCTION 

This pageant may be given by communities and 
schools. It may be given indoors or outdoors, but 
the outdoor production described in the text is the 
one to be preferred. For an indoor production have 
a brown floor-cloth tacked tightly to the stage. 
This may be of denim. Failing this, use the bare 
floor. Have pine-trees stuck in boxes of moist 
sand to suggest a forest, and cover the boxes with 
dark green or dark brown denim — not straightly and 
tightly, but in bulky lines, as if the pine-trees grew 
out of green banks. If pine-trees thus placed can- 
not be had, have simple hangings of forest green, 
which are an excellent substitute, and a good back- 
ground for costumes. 

All the costumes may be made of cheese-cloth, 
cambric, khaki, and woolen cloth. There are full 
directions for them under "Costumes." 

The pageant may be given as it is written here, 
with the community and the schools taking part, 
which is the ideal way for a pageant to be produced. 
Or it may be given by a community. It may be 
given in the form in which it is printed here, or it 



Note on Production 

may be cut, and given with no special groups of 
men of the G. A. R. in the audience, and with a 
smaller chorus than here suggested, and still pre- 
serve its integrity as a whole. It may be given by 
several schools together, or by one school, but in 
either case be sure that leading figures are adults 
or very tall young people. Such figures as America, 
The State, North, South, etc., etc., cannot be 
played by small-sized children. It will ruin the 
effect of the pageant. 

Be sure to have as much space as possible for the 
production of the pageant, for too cramped a space 
will ruin the effect of it. 

The music should be a band, if possible, if the 
pageant is given out of doors. Next to the band, 
an orchestra is best. But a piano, a flute, and a 
few strings can also be used. For indoors use 
orchestra, or piano and strings, or just piano, if the 
others cannot be had. 

If the pageant is given by a community on Dec- 
oration Day, divide the parts among the different 
schools and societies in the town, and let these 
community-societies be responsible for the cos- 
tumes. This will divide expense and labor so that 
no one will have too much to do. 



Note on Production 

The pageant should be rehearsed for two weeks. 

No additions can be made to it without destroy- 
ing the effect that it is meant to produce. Do not 
lengthen the songs or introduce other excerpts from 
the poets. Above all, do not introduce dances, for 
this pageant is a memorial one, and everything depends 
on its being given with true patriotic fervor, and 
solemnity. 

The entire pageant will play an hour and a 
quarter. It has already been acted, and its first 
production as a civic celebration took place in 
North ChilHcothe, Illinois, July 4th, 191 5. 

Thanks are due to To-Day's Magazine and to 
The Popular Educator for permission to republish 
such portions of this material as has appeared in 
their pages. 



MUSIC 

The patriotic songs of the pageant, "Firmly 
Stand, O Native Land," "The Star-Spangled Ban- 
ner," "Yankee Doodle," "We Are Coming, Father 
Abraham, Three Hundred Thousand More," can be 
had, both words and music, from a book called 
War Songs, published by the Oliver Ditson Co., 
Boston, Mass. Price, fifty cents. 

America the Beautiful can be had from Cressy & 
Allen, 534 Congress St., Portland, Me., for five cents 
a copy, or $3.00 a hundred. 

The Pilgrim hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our 
God," can be had in some hymn-books, or can be 
obtained from a volume called Home Songs, pub- 
lished by the Oliver H. Ditson Co., Boston, Mass. 

The incidental instrumental music, Dvorak's 
"Largo" from the "New World Symphony," 
Mendelssohn's "Spring Song," Gounod's "Funeral 
March of a Marionette," Grieg's "Death of Ase," 
from the "Peer Gynt " suite, and John Phillip 
Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" can be 
had at any music-store, or can be obtained from the 
Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, Mass., as can also 
Edward MacDowell's "From an Indian Lodge." 



COSTUMES 

Since a pageant is largely pictorial, great care 
should be taken with the costumes. While the cos- 
tumes are indicated in the text, fuller notes are 
given here, so that those producing it will know how 
to costume it in detail. 

The State. — For this costume see the illustra- 
tions in A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls, by Na- 
thaniel Hawthorne, illustrated by Walter Crane. 
The Greek costumes contained in this will also be 
excellent for America, Two of the Industries, 
Peace, Honor, North, vSouth. Do not have 
these costumes "btmchy," and be sure that the 
hair is worn flowing as it is in Walter Crane's 
pictures. 

The Little Girl. — She should be as sweet as 
possible, and should be like Tenniel's illustrations 
for Alice in Wonderland. She should have a white 
dress, white shoes and stockings, and a pale blue 
sash and hair ribbons. She should wear simple 
clothes, not fussy ones. She must on no condition 
wear a hat. 

Indian Chief. — Excellent ideas for his dress can 



Costumes 

be found in illustrated editions of " Hiawatha," and 
the pictures by Frederic Remington. He must not 
be a "tame" Indian, but a wild, bronzed figure, 
lithe and graceful. 

Pilgrims. — Cambric, with the unglazed side worn 
outward, is excellent for Pilgrim costumes. From 
this can be made dresses and cloaks, also the tall 
steeple hats that the men wore. They can be made 
of cardboard and then covered with the cambric. 
The well-known picture of "Pilgrims Going to 
Church" is an excellent one to copy. There seems 
to be an idea abroad that Pilgrims wore only Hack. 
but the fact is they wore colors, though these were 
always subdued in tone. Carry out the color scheme 
given in the pageant. Have some small, quaint 
children in the group, and costume them like their 
elders. Illustrated editions of Longfellow's "Myles 
Standish" will be a great help, and there are also the 
books of Alice Morse Earle, with pictures of the 
period, that can be had at most libraries. These 
give pictures of Pilgrim costumes. 

The Explorers. — The explorers' costumes, in 
faded browns and purples, should, if possible, be 
hired from a costumer's, as they will have better 
lines than any that can be made. See to it that 



1 



Costumes 

they are not all the same color, as if they were in a 
chorus, a mistake that costumers often make when 
sending costumes at long range. Pictures in Eggle- 
ston's Illustrated History of the United States will 
be found valuable for this. 

The Colonials. — These costumes should be 
hired, if possible. A life of George Washington, 
illustrated, will give an idea of them as well as the 
painting "The Spirit of Seventy-Six." 

Boy Scout costumes can be made to do for the 
Veterans of the Spanish War. The rest of the cos- 
tumes have been so fully described that there is no 
need of going into further detail here. For costumes 
of War of 1812 see The American Soldier, by 
Elbridge S. Brooks. 

Photographs of pageant costumes and pageant 
groups, with the arrangement of pageant stages, can 
be found in Plays of the Pioneers, published by 
Messrs. Harper & Bros. All the pictures in this 
book are applicable to this pageant. 



MEMORIAL DAY PAGEANT 



I 



MEMORIAL DAY PAGEANT 



People in the Pageant: 
The State. 
The Little Girl. 
An Indian. 

Five Explorers {Cavalier Adventurers). 
Ten Pilgrims. 
Three Minute Men. 
Six Lads of 1812, 
Six Boys in Blue. 
The North. 
The South. 
America. 

A Chorus of School -Children. 
Peace. 
Honor. 

Veterans of the Spanish War. 
Agriculture \ 

Manufacturing f ^^^..^a's Industries. 
Mining i 

Shipping ) 

Leader of the Folk Group. 
Folk Group (a boy and a girl from each country 

that is represented in the community in which the 

pageant is produced). 

STAGE SETTING : If possible the pageant stage 
should be at least fifty feet long and thirty feet deep. 
If possible it should be a level sward, and should 
have trees right, left, and background, so that the 
pageant actors cannot be seen until they are actually 



Memorial Day Pageant 

on the stage. In front of this stage the ground 
should slope, forming a hill, on which the audience 
may he seated. If such a spot is not available try 
for a grand stand, so that all can see. 

In the front rows of the audience, led there by 
ushers who wear bands of red, white, and blue, 
should be the seats for the chorus of school-children. 
The boys, if possible, should wear sailor suits, even 
the big boys, for these suits can be hired. Or if these 
are not obtainable, all the boys should be in khaki 
Boy Scout suits. The chorus should be dressed as 
much alike as possible, so they can appear definitely 
as a chorus specially costumed for the day. The 
girls in the chorus should wear white middy blouses 
and white duck skirts, if the boys in the chorus are 
dressed as sailors. If, on the other hand, the boys 
wear Scout suits, then the girls should wear the 
costumes adopted by the Camp- Fire Girls or the 
Girl Scouts. Directly back of the chorus should sit 
the Civil War Veterans, and their seats should be 
decorated with red, white, and blue. In the next 
rows should sit the Women's Relief Corps, and it 
would enhance the pageant if they would wear the 
quaint full dresses and poke bonnets of Civil 
War times. This will have the effect of flanking 



Memorial Day Pageant 3 

the stage with youthful American patriots, sailor 
lads and lassies, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. If 
this plan is impossible, then have all the girls of the 
chorus wear white, and all the hoys dark suits. 

The chorus first assembles. Then the men of the 
G. A. R. march in and take their places in the front 
rows. It would lend color and interest to the pa- 
geant if the rows just behind the G. A. R. were occu- 
pied by the Women's Relief Corps, dressed in the 
quaint hoopskirts and poke bonnets of Civil War 
days. If it is not possible to have either the G. A. R. 
or the Women's Relief Corps, the front rows may be 
occupied by the usual audience. 

As soon as audience and chorus are seated the 
opening song ^ is sung by the chorus. 

FIRMLY STAND, O NATIVE LAND ! 



Firmly stand, O native land! 
True in heart, and strong of hand. 
Hold the right, unbending. 

1 "Firmly Stand, O Native Land!" arranged by Clifford N. 
Page, to be found in a book called War Songs, published by 
the Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, Mass. Price so cents. 



Memorial Day Pageant 

Sword of justice thou shalt wield, 
Truth "and honor as thy shield, 
Freedom's cause defending! 

Firmly stand, O native land! 
My own dear native land! 

True remain, O native land, 
Never weak in freedom's band, 

True to duty ever. 
Mindful of the fathers brave. 
Who their lives for country gave, 

Dying that it ne'er may sever. 

True remain, O native land! 
My own dear native land! 

3 
Be awake, O native land! 
Soul to soul we take our stand, 

Later triumph bringing. 
May the throb of every heart 
Wisdom to our song impart. 

Still for freedom ringing. 

Be awake, O native land! 
My own dear native land. 



Memorial Day Pageant 5 

The pageant has now begun, and from the center 
background comes The State, a tall, feminine figure 
wearing a Greek dress of white cheese-cloth. She 
wears a mantle of the State color caught at her 
shoulders with golden clasps. {By State color is 
meant the official color of any State in which the 
pageant is given.) A wreath of the State flowers 
rests lightly on her flowing hair. A small shield of 
silver, on which the State seal appears in replica, is 
fastened to her breast. She carries a staff from 
which floats the Stars and Stripes. As she appears 
in the background, she lifts high the flag, as if in 
salute, and the Chorus bursts into " The Star- 
Spangled Banner.'' The State lowers the flag, 
letting the standard rest on the ground, and stands 
motionless to the end of the anthem. 

When the anthem ceases she walks forward, and 
when she has reached the center of the stage, well to 
the front, she looks directly at the audience and 
speaks the Prologue in a clear, resonant, far- 
reaching voice. 

PROLOGUE 

Friends, as we meet on this great day 
Let not the times so far away 



Memorial Day Pageant 

Grow dim. Forget not what they sought, 
Those patriots, nor what they wrought 
Who gave this day to us to be 
Freedom's great anniversary. 
And further yet, those valiant folk 
Who, throwing off oppression's yoke. 
Sought freedom. Yea, the builders, these, 
Who fared across mysterious seas 
With freedom ever for their quest. 
Northward and Southward, East and West, 
They sought for her, unceasing. 

{The State pauses. Her voice takes on a solemn 

note.) 

Then 
There came the boys in blue — the men 
Who died for her that she might be 
Within our midst, perpetually. 
{Pause: then — ) 

The torch they lit was handed on 
Up the steep hillsides of San Juan! 
And the oppressed beyond our land 
Were aided in their valiant stand. 
{Again The State pauses a moment. Then she 

raises the flag.) 



Memorial Day Pageant 7 

Not only colony and State 

Shine here. It shows our just and great. 

This flag, as on the air it flies, 

Holds their brave deed before our eyes. 

Watch as I touch each symbol bright. 

(She touches the white stripes.) 

This was the honor they kept white. 

(Touches the red stripes.) 

And here forever marked in red 

The blood that for their land they shed. 

(Touches square with stars.) 

This cobalt square which bright stars strew — 

This was the soul of them, "true blue!" 

(With finger on stars.) 

Their aims were high as were the stars! 

(Again she pauses an instant. Then continues, 

quietly) 
Now, ere the music's opening bars 
Announce our pageant, friends, I pray 
You hold their memory on this day. 

The Little Girl 
(Stepping out from the front row of the audience 
where she has been sitting, and speaking with 
childlike earnestness.) 



8 Memorial Day Pageant 

I should like to honor their memory on this day. 

The State 
I am glad of that. 

The Little Girl 
Who are you? 

The State 
Don't you know me? I am wearing the State 
flower and the State color, and here is the State 
seal. 

The Little Girl 
Why, you are m}?- State! 

The State 
Yes, dear child, I am your State. 

The Little Girl 

And why are you here? 

The State 
I have come to help you keep this great anniver- 
sary. I am going to summon the Past for you, and 
let you see, first the folk who built our nation. 



Memorial Day Pageant 9 

striving for freedom as they did so, and then the 
men through whom the gift of freedom was given. 
(Long-drawn, single bugle-note is blown, off 
stage.) 

The Little Girl 

What is that? 

The State 

The bugle-call of the Present to the people of the 
Past. Look! Here comes an Indian brave, one of 
the race who roamed this land before the pale face 
came here. He loved the freedom of Nature. To- 
day we understand the red man better. We, too, 
want Nature's freedom. We seek in the still places 
of the woods, in the dreamy quiet of the fields. 

{An Indian brave, magnificent in feathers and 
wampum, strides from left toward background. 
He enters to the opening bars of Edward 
MacDowelVs '^ From an Indian Lodged Half- 
way across the stage he pauses, splendidly 
erect, and, looking upward and letting fall his 
bow and arrows, appears to pray to the Great 
Spirit. Then he picks up his bow and arrows. 
Toward background he pauses again, takes 



lo Memorial Day Pageant 

aim, and lets fly an arrow, swiftly following it, 
as if to pick up his game. 
The State and the Little Girl stand at left fore- 
ground.) 

The Little Girl 

{Looking off toward right.) 
And who are these? 

The State 

The Explorers — men who wanted freedom to ex- 
plore, to discover new continents, new ways across 
the trackless ocean. They were the adventurers, 
men who dared sickness and peril on unknown seas 
until they found the goal they sought. 

( The Explorers enter from right to the strains of 
the " Largo" from Dvorak's "New World Sym- 
phony." They wear stained leather and rusty 
armor, the kind of costume suitable for a 
Captain John Smith. Two march bravely, two 
others follow, supporting a comrade who is pale 
and has a bandaged foot. Near the center of 
the stage they halt. The sick man leans against 
a comrade as the others take out a compass and 
decide which way to go. Then, the sick man 



Memorial Day Pageant ii 

being assisted as before, they exeunt right back- 
ground.) 

The Little Girl 
Who shall I see next? 

The State 
The Pilgrims. They wanted religious freedom, 
and found it on these shores. 

{The Pilgrims appear at left, men, women, and 
children, dressed in soft browns, dark blues, 
and gray, with here and there a black suit and 
cloak. The men walk on the outside and carry 
muskets. The women carry prayer-books. It 
would appear that they are on their way to 
church. They enter to the strains of Martin 
Luther's ''A Mighty Fortress is Our God.'' ^) 

Pilgrims 
{Singing.) 
That we may worship as we will 

We've braved this new land's rigor, 
And every wind that blows us ill 

We'll meet with dauntless vigor. 

1 Home Songs, published by the Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, 
Mass. 



12 Memorial Day Pageant 

Nor drought nor wind nor wave 

Can e'er deter the brave. 

If through bitter stress, 

Still forward they press. 

And let no fear draw near. 

{The Pilgrims continue slowly to the center of 
stage, where they pause for an out-of-door 
meeting. The men draw to one side of the 
stage, the ivomen to the other. The minister 
says: "Let us offer a moment of silent 
prayer." They fall on their knees, making a 
beautiful picture. The minister raises his hand 
in solemn benediction, and they are raising 
their heads, when an arrow flies out of the 
woods background, then another and another. 
The Pilgrims draiv together, frightened, the 
m^en on the outside with their muskets. Then, 
as there seems to be no further menace, they go 
on toward left, and disappear through the trees 
at left. Very faintly from the distance comes 
the hymn, repealed.) 



The Little Girl 
I am glad we need not feel such terror now. 



Memorial Day Pageant 13 

The State 

Those were perilous days. But the Pilgrims con- 
quered. 

The Little Girl 
And now — 

The State 

Now you will see those who fought for political 
freedom, who demanded liberty and equality, and 
who fought to obtain them. Our brave Yankee 
Minute Men! And after them the lads of 1812. 
Both fought for the same ideal. 

(The Little Girl looks expectantly toward right, 

where figures in Colonial dress are seen. 
To the notes of " Yankee Doodle'' two men an^ a 
boy pass from right to background, wearing 
costumes in exact replica of the famous paint- 
ing, " The Spirit of Seventy-Six." They ex- 
eunt. Pausp. Then the music strikes up 
^^ Hail, Columbia," and five lads of 18 12, led by 
a sixth, who carries the Stars and Stripes, 
march to background, and disappear from 
view.) 



14 Memorial Day Pageant 

The Little Girl 

That was a wonderful, thrilling picture! 

{Sees others approaching.) 
And who are these? 

The State 

The Pioneers who opened the land of the West, 
who wanted the freedom of wide, untrammeled 
spaces, freedom to grow, to enlarge their vision. 
(At this point there comes into the scene either a 
prairie-schooner drawn by oxen or horses, or 
a group of frontiersmen in costumes suggestive of 
Daniel Boone come riding in on horseback. 
Whichever way it is, the pioneers have a parley 
in dumb show as to which way they shall go, 
and pause a moment, a picturesque group, 
until the way, with decisive pointing gestures, 
has been decided upon. (The choice of whether 
it shall be prairie-wagon or men on horseback 
will be determined by what the school or com- 
mtmity can procure.) The pioneers should 
come from whatever direction is East on the 
pageant stage, and should depart in whatever 
direction is West.) 



Memorial Day Pageant 15 

The Little Girl 
That, too, was interesting to watch. What will 
you show me next? 

The State 

Can you not guess? All the folk whom you have 
seen wanted freedom. The Indian wanted Nature's 
freedom, the Explorers, freedom to discover, to dare. 
The Pilgrims and Puritans wanted religious free- 
dom. The Minute Men fought for political freedom, 
and so did their brothers of 18 12. Then came the 
Pioneers, the men who rejoiced in personal freedom. 
But there were other men, great and noble souls, 
who wanted freedom for others, freedom for the op- 
pressed, and that is the true freedom. Can you not 
guess whom you are to see now? 

The Little Girl 
(Shyly, yet half expectantly) — 
I'm not sure. 

(Looks eagerly at the glowing face of the State.) 

The State 
(Exaltedly)— 
Have you forgotten the men who marched and 
fought under Grant and Sheridan and Sherman, the 



1 6 Memorial Day Pageant 

men who followed Rosecrans and Thomas, the lads 
who suffered hunger and thirst and fever, who were 
wasted with sickness, shaken with ague, yet still kept 
on? I mean the men who suffered and died for free- 
dom at Gettysburg, at Vicksburg, at Murfreesboro, 
who fought for her for sixteen days at the Battle of 
the Wilderness, who stormed Fort Henry, who 
poured out their blood like water at Winchester, at 
Fisher's Hill, at Cedar Creek. These were the men 
who gave us our heritage. Can you not hear their 
marching tread? 

The Little Girl 
{Awed) — 
I think I— 

The State 
Hush i Listen ! 

{The Chorus begin to sing very softly, ''We Are 
Coming, Father Abraham,'' by James Sloane 
Gibbons. This song, in order to have its full 
thrilling effect, should give a semblance of com- 
ing from a distance. This can be done by 
having the first four lines a murmur, then the 
next pianissimo, the next a little louder, and so 
on, bursting into full vigor only toward the end. 
This singing must be as impressive as possible. 



Memorial Day Pageant 17 

The first three verses should be sung, not the 
last verse.) 



WE ARE COMING, FATHER ABRAHAM 1 
By James Sloane Gibbons 

We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred 

thousand more, 
From Mississippi's winding stream and from New 

England's shore; 
We leave our plows and workshops, our wives and 

children dear, 
With hearts too full for utterance, but with a silent 

tear; 
We dare not look behind us, but steadfastly before. 
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred 

thousand more. 

If you look across the hilltops that meet the North- 
ern sky, 

Long moving lines of rising dust your vision will 
descry; 

1 Published by the Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, Mass., in a 
book called War Songs. 



1 8 Memorial Day Pageant 

And now the wind an instant tears the cloudy veil 

aside, 
And floats aloft our spangled flag in glory and in 

pride, 
And bayonets in the sunlight gleam, and bands 

brave music pour: 
We are coming. Father Abraham, three hundred 

thousand more. 

If you look all up our valleys where the growing har- 
vests shine. 

You may see our sturdy farmer boys fast forming 
into line; 

And children at their mother's knees are pulling at 
the weeds. 

And learning how to reap and sow against their 
country's needs; 

And a farewell group stands weeping at every cottage 
door: 

We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred 
thousand more. 

{At the words, "If you look across the hilltops 
that meet the Northern sky," a group of six 
boys in blue should appear in silhouette in 



1 



Memorial Day Pageant 19 

background, with a wounded comrade on a 
stretcher. A bloody bandage is bound about 
his head. They carry him toward center and 
put him down with the effect of making him 
comfortable, till in pantomime they point to where 
their duty waits them, and assure him that they 
will return to him, though they must for the 
present leave him there. As they go toward 
background, one of the boys runs back and leaves 
his canteen with his comrade.) 

The Little Girl 
(Drawing close to the State, as if frightened) — 
Oh, is he going to die? 

The State 

He is wounded, but his comrades have to leave 
him for a Httle. He suffers that others may be free. 
And do you know what will lift him out of his suf- 
fering? A vision of what is to be. He thinks it is 
only a vision wrought by fever, but as he sees clearer 
he knows it is a great promise of what will come 
true. Watch and you will see it also. The ideal that 
he is willing to die for will appear to him. Free- 
dom. . . . 



20 Memorial Day Pageant 

The Little Girl 
(Awed) — 
Freedom — 

The State 

{Solemnly, but with exaltation) — 
"They love her best who to themselves are true, 

And what they dare to dream of dare to do. 

They followed her and found her 

With danger's sweetness round her. 

They saw her, plumed and mailed. 

With stern sweet face unveiled." 
(With passion) — 

"Many in sad faith sought for her, 

Many, with crossed hands, sighed for her. 

But these, our brothers, fought for her. 

At Life's dear peril wrought for her, 

So loved her that they died for her." 

(There is a moment's hush, and then from right 
comes the figure of the North, clad in flowing 
Grecian robes of the blue of cold lakes, and from 
the left a feminine figure clad similarly in gray. 
Both are pale, exalted, august. They move 
forward, across background, vision-like, and 
the sick lad, leaning on his elbow, keeps his 



Memorial Day Pageant 21 

eyes fixed on them. They move to the solemn 
strains of " The Death of Ase,'' from Grieg's 
''Peer Gynt" suite. Each carries a flag, but 
not triumphantly. At the center of the stage, 
when they are about eight feet apart, from back- 
ground America appears, wearing a crown of 
stars, a white robe, with a red, white, and blue 
mantle. Slowly she holds out her arms. The 
North gives up her flag, which America takes. 
Then slowly, as with reluctance, the South gives 
up her flag, and stands, with head bowed. The 
drum plays taps like a dirge, the North sorrow- 
fully watching the South. The drum-beats 
cease. Then very softly and delicately, like a 
whisper of hope, the first notes of Mendelssohn's 
* ' Spring Song ' ' ^ steal on the air. The South lifts 
her head slowly, and looks into America's eyes. 
For a moment they gaze at each other, and then 
the South looks, turning slowly, at the North, 
who with quick, warm, impulsive gesture, 
holds out her hands to her. Slowly the South 
accepts this offered greeting. As they take 
hands the " Spring Song " swells a little louder, 
as with lifting hope, but at no time must it be 
1 Or Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette." 



22 Memorial Day Pageant 

played forte. Then it fades to pianissimo as 
The State speaks, her eyes on America.) 



The State 

'Oh, beautiful! my Country! Ours once more, 
Smoothing thy gold of war-disheveled hair 
O'er such sweet brows as never other wore. 
Among the Nations bright beyond compare!" 
(With power) — 

"What are our lives without thee? 
What are our lives to save thee? 
We reck not what we gave thee, 
We will not dare to doubt thee, 
But ask whatever else and we will dare!" 
{A moment's pause. America draws the South 
toward her, and turns and draws the North with 
her other hand, and the three, like a family re- 
united after the terrors of war, move to the back- 
ground and are lost to view. The wounded lad 
passes a hand across his eyes, and lies down 
again. His comrades enter from right back- 
ground and come for him, lifting his stretcher 
carefully. As they go The State speaks.) 



Memorial Day Pageant 23 

The State 
(Facing audience) — 

"We sit here in the promised land 
That flows with freedom's honey and milk. 
But 'twas they won it, sword in hand, 
Making the nettle danger for us soft as silk." 
{She takes off her crown, and lifts herself su- 
perbly) — 

"I with uncovered head 
Salute the sacred dead!"^ 

The Chorus 

{Sings very softly the last verse of "The Battle. 
Hymn of the Republic," by Julia Ward 
Howe.) 
In the beauty of the liHes Christ was born across 

the sea. 
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you 

and me. 
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make 

men free. 
While God is marching on. 

{The chorus is not sung, just this verse.) 
1 From the " Memorial Ode" by James Russell Lowell. 



24 Memorial Day Pageant 

The Little Girl 

What came when North and South were united? 

The State 
Peace, the bringer of happiness to nations; the 
being without whom no nation can be at rest. The 
nation that has peace with honor is a happy nation. 

The Little Girl 

Were there no more wars? 

The State 
Only one. The boys in blue handed on the torch 
of their ideal to the boys in khaki. The boys in blue 
fought for the oppressed in our own land, the boys 
in khaki fought for the oppressed of another land, 
and that land was Cuba. The Veterans of the 
Spanish War salute you! 

{To a few bars of ''Columbia, the Gem of the 
Ocean," Veterans of the Spanish War in khaki, 
or tall boys uniformed to look like them, or 
members of the State militia so uniformed, 
march in from left, and stand in line, saluting 
the State and the Little Girl.) 



Memorial Day Pageant 25 

The Little Girl 
Our dear America and her attendants are coming 
back! 

{America walks from background to center, the 
North and South walking just behind her.) 

The Little Girl 
(Gazing eagerly) — 
She has two new attendants! They are walking 
side by side! 

(The two new attendants appear. They are fem- 
inine figures wearing costumes of the same type 
as America's. One wears a white robe, has a 
crown of lilies, and carries a dove. The other 
wears a white robe and royal purple mantle. 
Carries a gold staff wound with laurel.) 

The State 
It is Peace, with Honor. 

(America stands in the center of the stage, and 
North and South, and Peace and Honor range 
themselves about her, white-robed Peace and 
purple-robed Honor standing where all can see 
them. Four other attendants enter from back- 
ground.) 



26 Memorial Day Pageant 

The Little Girl 

And here are other attendants. 

The State 

Where Peace is, Industries thrive, and these arc 
America's Industries come to join the Pageant, and 
do America honor. These flourish when Peace 
stays with a Nation. This is Agriculture. 

{Agriculture in corn-yellow, carrying sheaves of 
wheat and corn, hows before America and then 
joins the group standing about her.) 
Manufacturing. 

{Manufacturing bows and salutes America. He 
is a youth dressed in steel gray, with a helmet 
and shield. The shield is made in the shape of 
an iron wheel with spokes). 
Mining — 

{Mining bows and salutes America. He is a tall 
youth dressed in shiny black, like the luster 
of coal. He has a silver girdle and a gold crown. 
He carries a silver pick-ax. After bowing, he 
joins Manufacture in the group about America.) 
Shipping ! 

{Shipping steps forward clad in pale sea-green, 



Memorial Day Pageant 27 

like the waves of the sea. Her unbound hair is 
bound with pearls and corals. There are pearl 
and coral chains about her neck. She carries a 
ship in her hand. She approaches America, 
makes a low obeisance, and says:) 
"Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State! 
Sail on, O Union, strong and great. 
Humanity, with all its fears, 
With all its hopes of future years 
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!"^ 
{As Shipping takes her place in the group about 
America, the Chorus and America's attendants 
sing the chorus of ''America the Beautiful, '' by 
Katherine Lee Bates and Will C. MacFarland.) 
"America, America, 

God shed his grace on thee, 
And crown thy good with brotherhood, 
From shining sea to sea!" 
{A pause, during which no music is played, and 
the Veterans of the Spanish War 2 cross and 
take up their positions as a guard of honor 
about America and her attendants. A short 
pause. Then the music strikes up Sousa's 

1 From Longfellow's "The Building of the Ship." 

2 Can be played by Boy Scouts. 



28 Memorial Day Pageant 

" Stars and Stripes Forever, " and from 
background comes a group of children dressed 
in bright folk-costume; the national dress of the 
older countries, Russia, Italy, Germany, 
France, Norway, Sweden, Servia, Greece, Scot- 
land, etc., etc., etc. They pause in front of 
America, at the side, so as not to obscure Amer- 
ica from the audience, and the leader speaks.) 

Leader of Folk Group 

We, the children come from oversea, salute you. 
We thank you, and the brave men who have died 
for you, for the gift of freedom you have passed on 
to us. You have given us freedom for opportunity. 
For this, with reverence and gratitude, we thank 
you. 

{America raises the Stars and Stripes, holding it 
aloft as a symbol. At this sign the children of 
the folk group speak, saluting.) 

All the Children of the Folk Group 

" Flag of our great Republic, guardian of our homes, 
whose stars and stripes stand for Bravery, Purity, 
Truth, and Union, we salute thee. We, the natives 



Memorial Day Pageant 29 

of distant lands, who find rest under thy folds, do 
pledge our hearts, our lives, our sacred honor, to love 
and protect thee, our Country, and the liberty of 
the American people forever." 

America 

(As in benediction) — 
Memories of this day stay with you! 

{Lowers flag, and makes a gesture toward the Vet- 
erans of the Civil War.) 
Memories of what these men strove for remain with 
you forever. 

{A moment's pause. The music once more takes 
up ''The Stars and Striped Forever," and all 
the pageant players, re-entering from hack- 
ground, make a wide sweep toward the left, 
turn, and cross in review before America and 
her attendants, passing out at right. They 
should come in order of their centuries, the 
Indian Brave leading them. America waits 
till the last, and then the pageant procession 
passes from the stage.) 



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